- April 19, 2024
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Billie Donovan, 89, is an avid photographer of local scenes -- see a few of her recent shots. And, a 44-year resident catches of pack of manatees splashing around in her backyard.
BY MIKE CAVALIERE | ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Billie Donovan is taken on a ride along the beach every day of the year, rain or shine. And during every trip, while listening to music from the 1940s and eating organic lollipops, she takes at least 54 photos — with two disposal cameras, since they are smaller and lighter to hold than a digital camera.
“She also takes cameras any time she gets in the car to go anywhere,” Christy Jones, her caregiver, said. “I think she would be thrilled to see one of her photos in your paper.”
Donovan also legally changed her name to Billie when she was 21, since she was such a fan of Billie Holiday.
“She lives for her beach ride,” Jones said. “Her husband passed away this past April; they met and married while they were both in the Marines, and were married almost 61 years!”
See those sea cows?
In the 44 years that Anne Martin has lived in her Riverside Drive home, she has seen a lot of wildlife in her waterfront backyard.
“(I’ve seen) water birds, manatees and porpoises,” she said. “But last week was the largest event yet!”
Starting at around 7 a.m., manatees came swimming into the area of water behind her backyard, and grouping into packs.
“The fewest we saw in the beginning were seven … then as many as 12 at once,” she said. “(There were) 10 to 12 constantly throughout the day.”
